Toyota is creating a regenerative gas cell for the manned pressurized rover (nicknamed the “Lunar Cruiser”) for the lunar polar exploration mission (LUPEX), a part of tasks led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Company (JAXA). (Earlier publish.)
Throughout an replace on the event standing, Ken Yamashita, Venture Head for the Lunar Exploration Mobility Works Venture, famous that the applied sciences below growth and being fine-tuned for the lunar rover shall be utilized again on Earth. A kind of is the regenerative gas cell (RFC) system. (Others are off-road driving efficiency, automated off-road driving, and the consumer expertise.)
A regenerative gas cell has the flexibility to perform as a gas cell that converts hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy and water, and as an electrolyzer that produces hydrogen and oxygen via the applying {of electrical} vitality. This dual-mode operation permits the gas cell to change between being an vitality generator and an vitality storage gadget.
One of many key challenges for the Lunar Cruiser is making it via the lunar night time (14 days) with out daylight. Toyota is seeking to the RFC to supply hydrogen and oxygen throughout daylight after which use the gas cell to provide electrical energy at night time.
There are a variety of expertise points to unravel for this software, together with light-weight storage for each hydrogen and water. Toyota is partnering with Mitsubishi Heavy (MHI) on marine electrolysis expertise for that side of the RFC, and leveraging its personal gas cell work as effectively.
Yamashita stated that the event of RFC expertise might allow high-efficiency hydrogen manufacturing utilizing daylight, making it compact and light-weight sufficient to be mounted in autos. General, Toyota sees RFC expertise as contributing to international round dwelling and carbon neutrality.